Ted Cruz holds nothing back during sharp questioning of Chuck Hagel

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, greets Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin after introducing her at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) less

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, greets Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin after introducing her at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) less

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives to speak at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) less

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives to speak at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, uses a poster while questioning Chuck Hagel, a former two-term GOP senator and President Obama's choice for defense secretary, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Hagel faced strong GOP resistance and was forced to explain past remarks and votes even as he appeared on a path to confirmation as Obama second-term defense secretary and the nation's 24th Pentagon chief. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, uses a poster while questioning Chuck Hagel, a former two-term GOP senator and President Obama's choice for defense secretary, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz answers a question from a television reporter Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz answers a question from a television reporter Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 31: Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (L) talks with committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) (R) as they and former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) arrive for Hagel's confirmation hearing to become the next secretary of defense on Capitol Hill January 31, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama nominated Hagel, a controversial choice as Hagel opposed former President George W. Bush and his own party on the Iraq War and upset liberals with his criticism of a gay ambassador, for which he later apologized. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) less

At the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, confers with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member, left, during a short recess in the confirmation hearing of Chuck Hagel, a former two-term senator and President Obama's choice to lead the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Hagel faced strong Republican resistance and was forced to explain past remarks and votes even as he appeared on a path to confirmation as Obama second-term defense secretary and the nation's 24th Pentagon chief. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less

At the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, confers with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member, left, during a short recess in the confirmation hearing of Chuck Hagel, a ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, questions Chuck Hagel, a former two-term senator and President Obama's choice to be defense secretary, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, sits at left. Hagel faced strong GOP resistance and was forced to explain past remarks and votes even as he appeared on a path to confirmation as Obama second-term defense secretary and the nation's 24th Pentagon chief. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, questions Chuck Hagel, a former two-term senator and President Obama's choice to be defense secretary, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee on ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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A campaign sign for Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz is reflected in the sunglasses of campaign intern Lorenzo Garcia as he waits for Cruz to arrive outside a polling location Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

A campaign sign for Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz is reflected in the sunglasses of campaign intern Lorenzo Garcia as he waits for Cruz to arrive outside a polling location Tuesday, Nov. 6, ... more

Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz, left, visits with Representative Francisco "Quico" Canseco, center, R-San Antonio, during a small rally of supporters in San Antonio. Applauding at right is Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. Canseco is fending off a challenge from Democratic state Rep. Pete Gallego. less

Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz, left, visits with Representative Francisco "Quico" Canseco, center, R-San Antonio, during a small rally of supporters in San Antonio. Applauding at right is Steve ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz reacts as a large number of votes for him is announced as he watches election results Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz reacts as a large number of votes for him is announced as he watches election results Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (L) participates in a reenacted swearing-in with his wife Heidi Nelson Cruz, daughters Caroline and Catherine, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol January 3, 2013 in Washington, DC. Biden swore in the newly-elected and re-elected senators earlier in the day on the floor of the current Senate chamber. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) less

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (L) participates in a reenacted swearing-in with his wife Heidi Nelson Cruz, daughters Caroline and Catherine, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) in the Old Senate Chamber at the ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz thanks the crowd during a victory speech as he is joined on stage by his wife Heidi, right, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz thanks the crowd during a victory speech as he is joined on stage by his wife Heidi, right, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

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Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz delivers his victory speech as he is joined on stage by his wife Heidi, right, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz delivers his victory speech as he is joined on stage by his wife Heidi, right, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace ... more

Sen.-elect Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. When the next Congress cranks up in January, there will be more women, many new faces and 11 fewer of the tea party-backed 2010 House GOP freshmen who sought re-election. Overriding those changes, though, is a thinning of pragmatic, centrist veterans in both parties. Among those leaving are some of the Senates most pragmatic lawmakers in both parties, nearly half the Houses centrist Blue Dog Democrats and several moderate House Republicans. less

Sen.-elect Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. When the next Congress cranks up in January, there will be more women, many new faces and 11 fewer of the tea party-backed 2010 ... more

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz came out guns blazing against former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The defense secretary hopeful has been dodging harsh accusations from the Republican Party all morning, but Cruz stood apart as an aggressive accuser.

Cruz played a clip of an interview Hagel did with Al Jazeera in 2009. In the clip, Hagel agreed with citizen callers that Israel had committed war crimes and that the United States was “the world’s bully”.

“A suggestion that Israel has committed war crimes is particularly offensive given the Jewish people suffered under the most horrific war crimes in the Holocaust. And I would also suggest that for the Secretary of Defense, or the prospective Secretary of Defense, not to take issue with that claim is highly troubling.”

Ted Cruz (AP Photo)

After the hearing, Cruz once again let Hagel have it.

“To agree with the characterization of the U.S. as the ‘world’s bully’ is not conduct one expects of the Secretary of Defense,” he said.

Republicans are praising Cruz for exposing Hagel as unfit, and Democrats are condemning him for accusations they say are out of context. Here are examples of some of the instant punditry: